Costs, exemptions & PPCs
What NHS prescriptions cost, who pays nothing, and when a prepayment certificate saves you money. Charges are set by NHS England and reviewed each April — we never add anything on top of the NHS charge.
Per item — a medicine, not a prescription. Identical at every pharmacy in England.
Most NHS items are dispensed free — check the exemption tiles below.
Royal Mail standard delivery on every order.
Who doesn't pay — check your exemption
If any tile applies, your prescriptions are free. We record your exemption at sign-up and declare it to the NHS on every order.
Age
60 or over, under 16, or 16–18 in full-time education.
Medical exemption (MedEx)
Conditions including diabetes on medication, epilepsy, hypothyroidism and cancer. Your GP surgery applies for you.
Maternity (MatEx)
Through pregnancy and for 12 months after your baby’s birth.
Qualifying benefits
Income Support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Pension Credit Guarantee, or UC earnings criteria.
Low income (HC2)
An HC2 certificate under the NHS Low Income Scheme covers full help with charges.
War pension
With a War Pension exemption certificate, for your accepted disability.
Be accurate about your exemption
Exemptions are declared to the NHS exactly as on a paper form. Claiming free prescriptions you're not entitled to can mean an NHS penalty charge of up to £100 on top of the original cost. Not sure which applies? Ask us before you declare — we'll help you check.
Paying for 2+ medicines a month? Prepay.
An NHS Prepayment Certificate (PPC) covers unlimited items for a fixed price. You buy it from the NHS directly — we link you from your account — then record it with us once.
Pays for itself at 4+ items in 3 months.
Pays for itself at 12+ items a year. Direct debit instalments available.
Covers listed HRT items for 12 months.